Fighting Fate (Endgame #4)

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  Thrust. Swivel. Slow. Fast.

  Kiss. Moan. Taste. Suck.

  Deep. Shallow.

  Each movement is perfect.

  Each act is love.

  Chapter Ten

  Summer is close and yet— we’re still in fucking hiding. Avery wants things with Emberlee fixed, Deacon proposed to Saylor, our classes are crazy . . . none of those things scream putting us first. Frustration is evident in each step I stomp, each move I rush through— in all things I perform.

  “You need to get laid asshole.” Mason throws over his shoulder while kicking my ass at Grand Theft . . . the game he bought Julie . . . a one year old. He wonders why nobody takes his ass seriously. In his defense, I did pay for half the game.

  “Worry about your own dick.” I don’t know what causes this group to be so concerned with someone else’s dick . . . besides their own. And that isn’t my issue— I dip my wick frequently— in silence— in secret— in this house with him a mere two hundred feet from the action. I’m tired of lying and acting like I’m the life of the party . . . when I’m trying to figure ways to avoid them. Our Spring Break trip I lied to the guys so much I had to write them down so I could remember the falsehoods I told. I was close to spilling the truth when Saylor manned up and claimed Deacon. That was a distraction and everyone has forgotten I disappeared . . . in tandem to Avery.

  “Emberlee is cooking us dinner tonight.” He informs me while performing a car heist.

  “Does she know how to cook?” He shrugs. “What do you know about this Brody asshole?”

  He puts the remote down— means it’s serious. “He broke her. I can’t say he was the beginning of her downward spiral . . . but he played a role.” Standing up he heads to the kitchen. “The day I found her— after she learned he was engaged— it was bad. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it since.” Eat a bag of dicks . . . this is fantastic.

  “How are we gonna handle it?” I’m curious for his feedback.

  “If she’s happy, we let her be. He steps outta line, we kick his ass.” I nod. Seems reasonable. “Let’s go. She’s making chicken wings.”

  The house is empty, except for her. Sneaking to the basement, her music threatens to rupture my eardrums. She’s lost in her thoughts, paint staining her hands, hair, clothes— she’s in her element. Broad sweeping strokes draw my attention, freezing me to the spot. Air escapes my chest, leaving me faint.

  She turns to gather paint for her brush and catches me staring. “Hey.” Red is creeping up her neck. Her gaze darts to the painting and back to me. She makes a move to stand in front of it, hide it from me, but her tiny frame can’t shield the canvas.

  “Whatcha’ got there?” Sauntering to her I enjoy watching her squirm.

  “U-uh . . . nothing.” I’ve flustered her and it’s damn cute.

  I make a spectacle of peering to both sides, over her head— it’s all an act, I’ve seen her innermost thoughts smeared across that massive white piece of work. “You sure?” I tilt my head, waiting for her to cave.

  She cranes her neck to see how much she’s hiding . . . and caves. “Fine. You caught me.”

  “Doing what?” I’m refusing to let her off the hook.

  “Painting.” Her condescending tone doesn’t deter me.

  “I see that. What’s your subject?” Yes, I’m aware I’m being an ass— making her admit the obvious.

  Her lips purse as she cocks her hip to the side. “Really?” Her beautiful eyes narrow as she focuses her irritation at me. “You. Me.”

  “I think you need to post a triple X rating on your door if you do these types of paintings often.” Her flushed cheeks and biting of her lip tell me my remark hit the mark. I step closer so we’re touching. “If you’re stuck, I’d love to give you a refresher course.” Being in proximity to her, seeing the erotic image she painted— from memory— of us tangled in sheets, has my dick hard.

  “I think a good lesson in fucking is just what I need.” Her sultry tone and brazen comment has me panting. Her finger pokes my chest and trails down to the button of my shorts. “You up for the challenge?”

  Crashing my lips to hers is the response I’m giving her. Placing my hands under her ass I hoist her up as she winds her legs to circle my waist. I advance until her body meets a hard surface and I can balance her against the wall and my body. There’s a lot of repositioning and shifting until I can get her shorts and panties free from her body and delve my fingers into her wet folds. Her loud moan tickles my ear as I latch onto her neck, nipping, sucking— leaving my mark all over her. She rides my fingers and frees my dick at the same time . . . a talent I’m glad she possesses. “Damn it, Aves.” I grunt as she pushes herself closer to me, forcing me to stumble and lose my balance.

  “Harder.” She begs. Thrusting my fingers deeper, curling them to hit her spot, I use my body to pin her tighter to the wall. Her arms flail, knocking over a bottle of paint, neither of us care. Bending my head I bite her nipple through her shirt and feel her suck my fingers in her core, screaming her release. I don’t relent, don’t give her a reprieve as I line up my dick to her entrance and slam into her.

  “Fuck.” She wails.

  “We are.” My tempo doesn’t falter as I pound into her. She pushes me back and drops her legs to create friction and I stutter, close to losing it. Her teeth find my jaw and I hit her walls with more force than normal. She screams, begging me to continue. Crashes, screams, grunts . . . they surround us. The louder she pleads, it forces me to the brink of beyond primal— I’m sure she‘ll be walking funny for a day or two.

  “Faster,” she demands.

  “You’ll enjoy what I give you,” I remind her who is in control. Pulling from her, I guide us to the floor, having her straddle me. “Ride me, Picasso.” And does she ever. I’d swear she was auditioning for the remake of 8 Seconds and trying to unman me at the same time. I grip her hips trying to slow her but she won’t have it. She covers my hands and fights for control, impaling herself on me. “Fuck, Aves. Slow down.” I’m too damn close.

  “You’ll take what I give you.” Her head falls back as she grinds down on my dick, clenching her muscles and her walls grip my dick, milking me for all I have. She collapses against my chest and we both catch our breath. “We’re sweaty.” She giggles.

  I glance down and bark in laughter. We are sweaty . . . but covered in fucking paint. It’s all over the floor, our clothes, matted in her hair. “We created a work of art.” Her eyes open and stop at the spot of green staining my hip. Tracing her fingers through it she glides it up to my stomach. “Unless you want round two, I’d quit your wandering.” Her grin sets my body ablaze. “Shower.”

  Flipping our positions so I can stand with her, I rush us to the bathroom off the basement and make good of my promise for round two. Three and four happen in her bedroom and she locks her door so I can stay all night.

  “Wedding at end of summer— then we can tell them?” Her voice is tiny and unsure.

  “Yes. I think we’d be okay telling them earlier if you want.” I’m hopeful. I’ve wrestled myself with this decision and all I can conclude is I love her. I want those I’m closest with to know. I want them to be happy for us, and if they can’t, I’ll still have her.

  “I say we tell them after. Maybe before classes start. It’ll give them less time to dwell and be worried.” I go to answer her but the door slams. She holds her fingers over her lips for me to be quiet. Emberlee is making a lot of noise and when Avery looks at me I know I’m gonna be kicked to the curb— via the window— to my own house. “Give me a few to get her occupied. She’s slamming and huffing loud enough to wake me up— she must need me.” So do I. And this is where we always end up. Someone, besides us, takes precedent. If we were in the open with our relationship this wouldn’t happen. We could tackle the bullshit our friends like to heap upon us together.

  “Love you.” I kiss her senseless.

  “Love you.” She sighs against my lips. At least she’s
giving me an opportunity to sneak through the door and I’ll take it. Hauling my big ass through the window is a challenge and she drained me tonight.

  Holding her in my arms, swaying to the music is heaven. We just saw our best friends get married and Avery is watching Lee Lee and her dad dancing. “It’s fine Picasso. They’re mending.” She sighs and squeezes me.

  “I know. I just don’t want her going back to that dark place.” I can’t disagree.

  “She has Brody to lead her out. Show her the light.” He’s proven to care for her. I’m happy he’s proven to be just what she needs.

  Spoke too soon.

  Fucking Mason opens his mouth and inserts foot— pissing Brody off and setting a shit storm in motion. In an instant, we all witness the fierceness come over Emberlee— the strong girl I remember emerges and I’m proud as hell. “Still on for tonight?” Avery’s voice pulls my attention.

  “Yes.” It’s been too long since we’ve had time together. Graduation, wedding planning, healing our relationship with Emberlee . . . it’s all taken precedent. We’re staying at a hotel because Mason requested the house to himself . . . to get involved with someone he shouldn’t. Just once I wish these motherfuckers I call friends would get their shit together so I can revel in my happiness.

  “Okay. I’ll meet you there.” I nod and laugh as Brecklynn pushes them to the floor to dance. Avery hip checks Lee Lee and draws her attention back to the group. My girl is special.

  Forgiving.

  Sexy.

  And mine.

  I eavesdrop and stifle my laughter at Avery’s explanation for being absent from home. Emberlee wants Brecklynn to spend the night— so Brecklynn is keeping secrets as well.

  “So, your plans include you being gone all night?” Emberlee fishes for information.

  “Maybe. Batteries get expensive. Sometimes a girl needs the real thing.” That girl isn’t using batteries, I can attest to that. Our parents taking over the dance floor and showing us moves that will require bleach to the eyes bombard me. Mason nods at me as we move in to show the moms real dance moves . . . to the horror of our fathers. It’s nice to relax, enjoy the freedoms our lives provide.

  Deciding to leave, I find Avery. “Thirty minutes.” She better not be a fucking minute late. Emberlee is standing outside, huddled on a bench. “Need a ride home?” She scans the area— searching for Brody and breaking my heart. “Everyone else is square.” I try to tell her she’s been left in a nice way.

  “Sounds good.” She leans into me as I guide her to my car.

  “Brody’s apartment or you spending the night in your own bed?” I was hoping she said Brody’s . . . but her bursting into tears tells me otherwise. “Hey, Lee Lee. Calm down. It’ll be fine.” I can tell I’m gonna have to kick his ass.

  “You don’t know that. Hell, I don’t know that. I can’t change the fact Mason and I slept together. I don’t want to. It’s part of my history, and I had my reasons.” This is why I made this stupid rule that is fucking with my life. Nobody gets the reasons she turned to him . . . and nobody will understand that Avery and I fell in love.

  “Guys’ perspective . . . it ain’t cool.” She scoffs but I’m speaking the truth. “No, really. We know if y’all aren’t a virgin. But being face to face with someone else who’s been up in you— not cool. Saying that, if he loves you or wants this, he finds a way to get over it.” Thank fuck I don’t have that dilemma with Avery. I’d go fucking insane.

  “You’re contradicting yourself. He shouldn’t have to face someone that used to fuck me, but he has to so we can be together. What everyone is forgetting is this would be a moot point if he hadn’t pussied out and bailed without an explanation.” She sure as shit isn’t holding back.

  I stop at a red light and defend myself. “Whoa. Don’t shoot the messenger. It’s weird all around. Mace has to be leery of what he says— which isn’t easy because we’ve never censored our conversations. Brody, I guarantee, is constantly looking at every surface wondering if you’ve been defiled there.” She laughs and I exhale. I hate breaking it down for her, but I need her solid. “You have to decide what you can deal with or what your bottom line is.”

  “I love him.” She turns to me and the pain this is causing her is killing me. Definitely kicking his ass. “I love Mace. I put someone ahead of my friends once, and I won’t do it again.”

  “No, Lee Lee. I’m not telling you to make a choice. Mason would never make you, and I don’t think Brody will either. What I meant was you have to make a decision. We’re growing up. If you separate yourself from the group, it’s understandable. It’d hurt like hell, but if you love him, isn’t it about sacrifice? Putting the other first.” My words choke me. It’s what we’ve always avoided and now it’s here. We aren’t five. Or ten. This is a new world for us. “Have you told him the truth? I know he knows it was a friend’s thing, but does he know it wasn’t a constant thing for three years? That it didn’t change your friendship? Does he know you love him?” I know what she feels for him is different than what she and Mason had.

  “No. I won’t make a choice. We’ve said we’ll always be together. Deacon and Saylor are married with a kid, and they still live two doors down from me. Saylor’s able to be around us knowing we’ve all seen Deacon with other girls. Hell, we were friends with the baby momma. If I put him first, shouldn’t he do the same— if he did, this would be a moot point.” I understand she’s making a valid point . . . but guys’ brains are wired different.

  “Calm down.” I grab her hand and breathe with her. “Have you explained to him what it was you and Mason were doing?” She nods and giggles. “I knew this was gonna fuck something up. We tried to warn y’all.” The cruxes of my issues are her issues.

  “I don’t know. It may be a non-issue. Brody seemed intent on entering a committed relationship with his glass of alcohol tonight. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.” I pull in the driveway and she reaches for the door.

  Kicking my own ass, I offer something that will kill me, but it’s what Avery would want. “Want some company?”

  “Nah. Brecklynn is supposed to stay here, but she may have gone with Brody.”

  My stomach drops because she sure as hell isn’t with her brother.

  “Mason said he was giving her a ride.” In the literal sense but I keep that part quiet.

  “Okay. See ya.” I make sure she gets in the house fine and punch the steering wheel. For fuck’s sake . . . it’s always something. I’m thinking of contacting MTV and asking them if they need a new reality show. We’re all so hell bent on screwing up our lives, we may as well get compensated for it.

  Speeding to the hotel, I debate hiding this from Avery. Knowing she’ll see through this and me will derail our ‘coming out’— I know I’ll fess up with the truth.

  “Someone didn’t get here in the allotted thirty-minute time frame he gave me. However shall I punish you?” Looking at her, I’m stunned at her innocence mixed with feistiness. She’s lounging across the bed, still dolled up from the wedding and seems carefree.

  Sighing, I tug the sides of my hair. “Had to take Lee Lee home.” Her body bolts upright.

  “Brody didn’t wait for her?” I shake my head. “Why are you here? You should have called me. Stayed with her.” She’s frantic, gathering her purse, digging for her phone.

  “Aves, stop. I offered her company. She wants to be alone.” Gripping her shoulders, I turn her to face me.

  “But Lee Lee and heartbreak leads to destruction. We’re just getting her back.” Tears shimmer in her eyes and I reiterate for the millionth time— I’m kicking his ass.

  “Give her some credit. She was rational and making sense. Didn’t seem like she was ready to go off the rails.” Pulling her close I sigh as she wraps her arms around me. “We need to give her space. Stop second guessing each step she makes.”

  “I know. It just scares me. We’re still healing . . . all of us. And we still don’t know what we’re dealing with.” The fa
ct Emberlee still hasn’t explained the whole shebang of her actions weighs heavy. But, we’re moving forward.

  “When are we telling everyone?” I don’t miss the quiver in her voice. This time it’s me pushing us back but I can’t bring myself to tell her my thoughts.

  “Same time frame. End of summer. Deacon and Saylor just got married. Give Lee Lee some time to wrap her head around being in love. Mason is acting cagey with Brecklynn . . .” The disappointment in her eyes squeezes my heart. She sees through me . . . but if she hadn’t been adamant almost two years ago, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” She’s trying to convince herself. But, she wasn’t in the car when I got a rude awakening of why we’ve done whatever we can to protect our friendships— because it’s everything. People will come into our lives— some for good and some for a time— but through it all, we have one another. From crib to casket.

  I take her in my arms, press her head to my chest, letting her feel my heartbeat; silently conveying to her . . . it beats for her. Her tears leave a burning trail across my chest so I squeeze her tighter. Hold her longer. Lying her on the bed, I strip us both, cover her with my body, my warmth, my love— each thrust into her I’m pouring my love into her. Each nip of my teeth I’m infusing her with the passion she wrings from me. Each sigh is a wordless devotion of my commitment to her.

  So, an end of summer get together turns into a full blown party. Only Emberlee. I’m thankful things have settled with her and Brody. With school starting in a couple weeks . . . we need a reprieve and come hell or high water in a few days everyone will know Aves and I are in love.

  Emberlee saunters in like the cat who ate the canary. “Why the party, Lee Lee?”

  She winks and leans headfirst to me. “I may be causing some fireworks.” Her eyes dart to Mason and Brecklynn.

  This is gonna be epic. “Oh, fuck. I think I’ll find somewhere else to sleep tonight. Those fuckers give Saylor and Deacon a run for their money in the loudness factor. Why must you scream when you fuck? Hell, whether I’m shouting or silent, I get mine.”